Method of and apparatus for inserting coils in armature cores



J. F; CULLYN 2,272,263 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING COILS IN ARMATURE CORES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 4, 1938 yjma VAT/20672707" J. F. CULLIN Feb. 10, 1942.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING COILS IN ARMATURE CORES Filed Nov. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cad/(l2,

H ZZ EU (7623 06 7 1 W A W J. F. CULLIN Feb. 10, 1942.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING COILS IN ARMATURE CORES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 4, 1938 3 WM. 96 Q H 3 ll 5 L: 6 :1: m 4% a w 9 7 a w Patented Feb. 10, 1942 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSERT- ING COILS IN ARMATURE CORES Jasper F. Cullin, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by

mesne assignments, of two-thirds to Lou Mervis, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 4, 1938, Serial No. 238,747

8 Claims.

The invention relates to the insertion of formwound coils into armature-cores.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of, and apparatus for, expeditiously inserting form-wound coils into the armature-cores.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detail description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a vertical section of a press for inserting one side of form-wound coils in the bottoms of the grooves in the armature-core. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of said press. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective illustrating the bending of the ends of the coils during the insertion of one side thereof into a groove of the armature-core. Fig. 4 is a detail section illustrating the pusher forcing the coil into the bottom of the groove in the core. Fig. 5 is a section illustrating the armature-core with one side of the sides of the coils respectively secured in the longitudinal grooves in the core, the other sides being held in the retaining clips. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the coils and the clip in which it is retained before and while the coils are being inserted into the core. Fig. '7 is a section through one of the retaining clips in the bottom of the groove. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a machine for inserting the second side of each coil into one of the grooves in the armature-core and on top of the previously inserted side of another coil, the parts being shown in the position assumed before the second side of the coils have been forced in the grooves of the core. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the second sides of the coils inserted in the grooves and on top of the first inserted sides. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line |0--|0 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged section through a clip holding one of the coils preparatory to its insertion into the armature. Fig. 12 is a similar View illustrating one side of the coil forced from the clip into the groove of the core.

The invention is exemplified in connection with the insertion of form-wound coils which are held together by clips, as exemplified in Letters Patent No. 2,114,287, granted to me April 19, 1938. While each coil 18 is on the form on which it is wound, in the coil-winding machine, the wires at one side of the coil are confined and retained in a clipl3. Each clip comprises a pair of plates 20 and 2| which are spaced apart and are rigidly secured together by a strip 22. The space between plates 2| and 22 forms a channel which is adapted to receive one side |8 of the windings of a coil |8. An ejector-bar 24 is slidably mounted in each channel between said plates. A pair of fiat spring-strips 25 have terminals fixedly secured to the plates 20 and extend freely around the back and the plate H the portions 23 thereof will be resilient. Each strip 25 is provided at its free end with an inwardly extending tongue 2'! adapted to extend across the channel between plates 23, 2| and hold the coil in the clip. Each strip 25 is also provided with an inclined cam 28 which extends through a slot in the plate 2| and is engageable by an inclined or cam surface 29 on the ejector bar 24. Each ejector-bar is provided with ends 33 which project from the ends of plates 28, El and are provided with inclined edges 3| which are adapted to be engaged by an ejector-operating element, as hereinafter set forth.

The first step in inserting the coils into the armature-core consists in manually placing the free sides l8 of the coil while the opposite side l8 is held in a clip, into one of the longitudinal grooves 33 of an armature-core 34 and then forcing the wires at side I8 of the coil tightly into the bottom of the groove. For this step, the armature-core 34 and its shaft 35 are supported in a press so that the side l3 of each of the coils can be forced into one of the grooves 33 in the armature-core. This press comprises a tailstock 36 provided with a socket 331 having a key-way 38 therein for receiving a key lit on the shaft 35 of the armature. held in a stationary bearing 39, the upper end of which is open for the insertion and removal of the stock. The other end of armature-shaft 35 is centered by a screw 4|) which is threaded to a lug on supporting-frame 4| and provided with a handle 42 whereby the screw may be adjusted to fit into a tapered centering socket in shaft 35. Tailstock 37 is provided with a handle 43 for rotating the core 34 and its shaft 35 to successively bring the grooves 33 under a plunger 44 which is operable by fluid under pressure in a cylinder 45. This plunger is provided with a presser-bar 43 which is adapted to pass into the restricted entrance of groove 33 and engage the coil to jamb the strands of side |8 of the coil into the bottom of, and close together in, the groove. The plunger is also provided at its ends with covered formers 41 which are adapted to engage the ends [8 of the coils to bend them so said ends will extend across the ends of the The tailstock 36 is armature-core and to bring the coil sides lll gripped in the clips to points near the diametrically opposite slot 33 into which they are to be inserted. A plate 58 secured to one end of plunger it and is adapted to engage, guide and bend the terminals it' of the coil into, or into position to enter, the slots in the commutator "19 for connection to the respective segments thereof. Any suitable control-means may be provided for operating the piston til and cylinder 55 to raise and lower plunger i l.

In inserting the sides lb of the cells, each side is loosely and manually inserted into groove 33. The operator then rota es the core Fi l through handle 43 to bring said groove in registry with the press-bar M on the plunger it. Next, the plunger M is operated downwardly so that bar 46 will enter groove and jamb the wires in the grOOVe in the bottom thereof. Simultaneously the formers 47 will bend the ends Hi of the loops to bring the clip near the diametrically opposite groove in the core, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The coils are successively inserted in the core in this manner until the sides It of all of the coils have been jambed in the grooves 33 and the clips are brought into position near the diametrically opposite grooves.

The machine illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 is einployed for inserting the sides Ill of the coils which are held in the clips into the grooves 33 and over the coil sides which have been jambed into the bottoms of the grooves. This machine comprises a base 521. A socket which is adapted to receive the end of armature-shaft 35 and is provided with a groove i l :or recoivii key 35 on said shaft and a handle for manually rotating the sleeve to rotate the armaturecore to bring the grooves 33 into registry with the clips l9, respectively, while the clips are held against rotation. The opposite end of the arms." ture-shalt 335 is held in a socke in the lower end of a vertically slidable stem 55 which is supported so it can be moved vertically into and out of engagement with the upper end of armatureshalt 35.

The armature-core and the coils with the clips thereon with the side ld of each coil secured in the bottom of a groove in core 34 and the other side Eli held in one of the clips, is placed into the machine and held therein, as shown in Fig. 8. She end of shaft 355 will be placed in socket 5') while stem 56 is raised. The stem 56 is then lowered so the upper end of the armature-shalt will be confined in socket When the core is thus held, the clips and coilsides H3 will be distributed around the core near the grooves 33 diametrically opposite to the grooves in which the inserted sides E8 of the coils are secured.

A series of wedge-shaped blocks fill, each fixed to a stem Bl, are arranged radially around the armature core, and are radially slidable in the base 52. These blocks, when moved radially inward, also force the clips against the armaturecore and position them in registry with the groove 33 in the core, so that the ejectors will force the coil-sides it into said grooves. Stems C! are slidab-le in radial grooves 52 formed in base 52. A cover-plate 63 to base 52, holds the stems Bl in the base. The wedge-blocks are adapted to fit between the side-faces of adjacent clips, and to lock them against rotation with the armature coil. Blocks 6B are shifted into locking position by mechanism which comprise a pair of superimposed rings G4, which are rigidly secured together by bolts Bi; and are rotatable on the base 52 and provided with cams 66, 6?, respectively, for shifting the stems 6i of alternate blocks 58 radially inward. A cylinder to or fluid under pressure is provided with a piston for shifting a stem ll which is connected by means ol :1 link ll to ring a l so that, by admitting fluid under pressure to cylinder '69 for shifting the stem W outwardly, rings fi l, 55 will be shifted to force stems El and blocks inwardly to lock the clips around the armature-core. Ey admitting fluid to move stem ll! inwardly, ring 5 5, will be reversely rotated to release blocks E0 and stems 5 I.

In inserting the si es N3 of the coils into the grooves 33 of the core the cores, coils and clips, assembled, as illustrated in Fig. 5, will be placed in the machine. one end of shaft 35 being placed in socket with key locking the shaft and socket for conjoint rotation, and the upper end of the armature-shaft being placed in the socket 55 of the vertically slidable stem 56. One side 88 of each coil will be secured in the bottom of a groove 33 in the core and the clips and sides lb of the coil will be suspended on opposite sides of the core adjacent the diametrically opposite grooves 33 in which the respective sides lii of the coils are held. When this assembly is placed in the machine the blocks 69 are re tracted and moved outwardly a sufiicient distance to permit the clips to be inserted or dropped between the faces of adjacent blocks. At such time the channels in the clips in which the coil sides 8 held, will be out of registry with the grooves in the armature-core into which they are to be inserted. The operator, by shifting lever 55, will rotate the armature-core and the sides N of the coils fixed therein relatively to the clips to bring the latter into registry with the grooves into which the coil sides it are to be inserted.

Next, the operator will admit fluid under pressure to cylinder 69 to rotate cam-rings 6-1, 55, so that the cams 58, El thereon will engage stems 6 i and force the wedge-blocks Bl) radially inward to jamb the inner ends of the clips against the armature-core and to lock the clips against vertical movement and rotation relatively to the core.

Mechanism is provided i or discharging the coil sides Hi from clips l9 and forcing them into the grooves 33 on top of the coil sides Jil This mechanism comprises a vertically movable head 14 around stem Head M carr'es an annular series of depending ejector operating bars l'l cor responding in number to the number of clips and coils. Each bar TI has an. inclined lower end 18 adapted to enter the clip between its ejector 24 and strip 22 and to engage the inclined edge 3| on the upper end of the ejector when the head M is lowered. its the bars 17 enter the clips, respectively, they will engage inclines 31 on the ejectors 24 and simultaneously force all of the ejectors inwardly toward the axis of the core. The ejects-rs will discharge the coil-sides Ill from the clips 69, force said coil sides into the grooves 33 and jamb them on top of the previously inserted coil side lfi so that both sides of the coils in one groove 33 will be pressed or jambed together in the groove.

During the initial movement of the eject'ors 24, their inclined surfaces 29 will engage cams 28 on resilient strips 25 to move ends 2'! of said strips out of the path of the wires in the clips so that they can pass into the grooves 33. At the con- 'moval.

clusion of this step of assembling the armature, the sides of the form-wound coils will be inserted in lapped relation in diametrically opposite grooves, as well understood in the art. The wires of the sides of the coil will be jarnbed into the grooves, as desired, and a suitable packing of paper may be forced into the outer ends of the grooves to complete the armature assembly after it has been removed from the inserting machine.

Mechanism is provided for raising and lowering head Hi by power and this comprises a lever 75, which is fulcrumed at 88 in a bracket 8!, which is is fixed to bed 52 and pivotally connected by trunnions .34 and 86 to the upper end of a sleeve 85 to which head M is fixed; a cylinder 16 adapted to be operated by fluid under pressure and containing a piston w a stem 82 operable by said piston and connected through a link 83 to lever i5. The upper ends of bars ll are confined in grooves in head M and are held therein by a spring-ring 88. A sleeve 39 fits around spring-ring 88 and bars W to lock them in head It. After the coil sides have been forced from the clips into the grooves the operator will admit fluid under pressure to cylinder 76 to lift the head i l and withdraw the inclined lower ends 18 of bar W from the clips. The ejector bars 24 can then be pushed or tapped back intothe clips, so the clips will be free to be removed when they are released by blocks 5t.

Next, the operator will admit fluid under pressure to cylinder 69 to reversely rotate cams E54, 65 a sufficient distance to cause the wedge-blocks 62] to release the clips and permit their manual reremoved from the machine with its coils completely inserted and in readiness for securing the terminals of the outer sides of the coils in the outer portions of the grooves to the armaturesegments, as Well understood in the art.

A ball 90 in head 74 is pressed against stem 56 by a spring 9! so that when the stem 56 is raised, ball 90 will enter a notch 952 in stem 55 and hold the stem raised while the armature core is being placed into and removed from the machine. After the core has been placed in socket 553, the operator can lower the stem 56 so the upper end of the armature-shaft will enter socket 55. Aftertheejectors have been operated to discharge the coil sides and head it is raised, the stem 56 will be raised with said head by springpressed ball to to provide clearance for the removal of the assembled coils and core.

The invention exemplifies a method of, and apparatus for, expeditiously inserting both sides of form-wound coils into the grooves of an armature-core and for compressing them together in the grooves. t simplifies and expedites the labor of inserting the coils in the core and, more particularly, the side of the coil which is placed on top of the coil side placed in the bottom of the groove.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g

1. In apparatus for inserting form-wound coils into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one side of a coil secured in one of its grooves, a holder provided The assembled armature may then be with means for removably attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of the coil before the core is placed in the supporting-means, means on said frame for supporting the holder, means for operating one of said supporting means for relatively positioning the core and holder so that a second groove in the core and the coil-side in the holder will be in radial re istry after the core carrying the coil and holder has been placed in the supporting-means, and mechanism associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for discharging the coil-side from the holder into the second groove after it has been so positioned.

2.- In apparatus for inserting form-Wound coils into the groove of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one side of a coil secured in one of its grooves, a holder provided with means for l'emovably attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of the coil before the core is placed in the supporting-means, means mounted on the frame for retaining the holder against rotation when the core carrying the coil and holder has been placed in the core-supporting means, means for rotating the core for positioning the coil-side in the holder in radial registry with a second groove in the core, and mechanism associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for discharging the coil-side from the holder into the second groove after it has been so positioned.

3. In apparatus for inserting form-Wound coils into the groove of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one side of a coil secured in one of its grooves, a holder provided with means for removably attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of the coil before the core is placed in the supporting-means, means on said frame for supporting the holder, means for operating one of said supporting means for relatively positioning the holder and the core so that a second groove in the core and the coilside in the holder will be in radial registry after the core carrying the coil and holder has been placed in the core-supporting means, an ejector mounted in the holder for discharging the coilside from the holder, and mechanism mounted on the frame for shifting the ejector to deliver the coil-side in the holder into the second groove after it has been so positioned.

4. In apparatus for inserting form-Wound coils into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one of the sides of a series of coils secured in its grooves, a series of holders each provided with means for attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of one of the coils before the core is placed in the supportingmeans, means mounted on the frame for supporting the holder, means for operating one of said supporting means for simultaneously and relatively positioning the series of holders and the core so that the grooves in the core and the coil-sides in the series of holders will be in radial registry when the core carrying the coils and the holders has been placed in the core-supporting means, and mechanism associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for simultaneously discharging the coil-sides from the series of holders into the grooves in the core while the holders and core are held in fixed relation.

5. In apparatus for inserting form-wound coils into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one of the sides of a series of coils secured in its grooves, a series of holders each provided with means for attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of one of the coils before the core is placed in the supporting-means, means mounted on the frame for retaining the series of holders against rotation when the core carrying the coils and the holders has been placed in the core-supporting means, means for rotating the core for positioning the coil-sides in the holders in registry with the grooves in the core, and mechanism associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for simultaneously discharging the coilsides from the series of holders into the grooves in the core while the holders and core are held in fixed relation.

6. In apparatus for inserting form-Wound coils into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one of the sides of a series of coils secured in its grooves, a series of holders each provided with means for attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of one of the coils before the core is placed in the supportingmeans, a series of wedge-members movable radially between the holders and mounted on the frame for retaining the series of holders against rotation and radial movement when the core carrying the coils and the holders has been placed in the coresupporting means, means for rotating the core for positioning the grooves in the core in registry with the coil-sides in the holders, and mechanism associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for discharging the coil-sides from the series of holders into the grooves in the core while the holders are held in fixed position.

7. In apparatus for inserting form-Wound coils amazes into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supporting the core with one of the sides of a series of coils secured in its grooves, a series of holders each provided with means for attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of one of the coils before the core is placed in the supportingmeans, means mounted on the frame for supporting the holder, means for operating one of said supporting means for simultaneously positioning the core and the holders so that the grooves in the core and the coil-sides in the series of holders will be in radial registry when the core carrying the coilsand the holders has been placed in the core-supporting means, ejectors slidably mounted in and carried by the holders, and axially movable cams associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for shifting the ejectors to discharge the coil-sides from the holders into the grooves.

8. In apparatus for inserting form-wound coils into the grooves of armature-cores, the combination of a frame provided with means for supportin the core with one of the sides of a series of coils secured in its grooves, a series of holders each provided with means for attaching it to and supporting it from the free side of one of the coils before the core is placed in the supportingmeans, a series of wedge-members movable radially between the holders, and mounted on the frame for retaining the series of holders against rotation and radial movement when the core carrying the coils and the holders has been placed in the core-supporting means, means for rotat: the core for positioning the grooves in the core in registry with the coil-sides in the holders, a series of cams associated with said frame at said registered location and operable for shifting the wedge-members, and fluid-pressure means for shifting said cams.

JASPER F. CULLIN. 

